OBITUARIES
James Sterling Medley USA Major (Ret.)
James Sterling Medley
USA Major (Ret.)
March 31, 1930 – December 7, 2018
BOWIE – James Sterling Medley USA Major (Ret.), 88, was called by God to join His eternal regiment on Dec. 7, 2018 in Bowie, TX.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the First United Methodist Church of Vashti with the Rev. Tom Medley officiating.
Burial will follow at Post Oak Cemetery in Post Oak.
Jim was born March 31, 1930 to James Harvey and Alta Mae (Bowman) Medley in Quanah. He met his wife of 66 years, Helen Ruth (Fox) Medley in 1952 and married her five days later, to her parent’s great dismay. Jim and Helen raised two sons, James C. Medley and Tommy R. Medley.
Jim had three great passions in life— his faith, his family, and the U.S. Army. Jim was raised Assembly of God under the firm hand of his father the Rev. James Harvey Medley, but finally graduated from the denomination as an alumnus of the Christian faith.
He had a great love of debating Christian theology and listening to gospel music, but his final theological treatise is “Christ risen for the salvation of humanity.”
Jim had a great love for his family and afforded them opportunities through his military career that few families have the opportunity to experience places and cultures in which we lived. Jim always offered wisdom and hope to his family.
He watched his children grow as every father does with the hope of their tomorrow and joy in life. The week God called him to His side, Jim while looking at pictures of his sons and grand/great grandchildren and said to Helen, “look, they look just like me.”
Major (Ret.) Medley served more than 25 years in the United States Army as an Infantryman, an Armored Cavalry Officer and as a finance and accounting officer. He completed his time in the military as the Comptroller for Far East Command.
During his service MAJ. (Ret.) Medley was awarded: The Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Medal with two stars, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Overseas Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, ROK Presidential Unit Citation and Presidential Unit Citation.
Jim is preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Bobby Medley and sister, Louise Hoffman.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Helen; son, James and his wife Daniella, Port Arthur, son, Tom and his wife Cynthia, Wichita Falls; two grandchildren, Jenni Medley, Homer, Alaska and Sarah Dale and husband Kaleb, Fredericksburg; two great grandchildren, Adley Wren Dale and Ellis Boone Dale, Fredericksburg; his sister, Marie Ellis, Bellevue; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
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May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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